July 3, 2009 Red Sox pitcher Dice-K's going to Florida

BOSTON (AP) - Boston right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will be going to Florida on Monday to begin a strengthening program that the Red Sox hope will get him back to the big leagues later this season.

Matsuzaka was 1-5 with an 8.23 ERA and an opponents' batting average of .378 before going on the disabled list June 21. He's been out with a shoulder strain, and the Red Sox have said he hasn't been right since helping Japan win the World Baseball Classic.

The Japanese star was 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA and a major league-best .211 batting average against last season.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona said there was no timetable for his return. Francona also isn't sure how long Matsuzaka will be in Fort Myers, the team's spring training home.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)